A fiery Norwegian ferry will be lit up with fireworks in a display to mark the close of England's largest arts festival.

A team of pyrotechnicians will transform the floating Walk The Plank theatre into a firework show for the finale of the Brighton Festival 2005 at Brighton Marina on Sunday.

The cast and crew of the former Norwegian cargo and passenger ferry sailed in to the city last Monday to perform their production of Noah's Ark. But the stage will undergo a complete overhaul in time for this weekend's celebrations featuring blazing sculptures, fountains and waterfalls.

Street artists and live musicians will perform at the marina from noon as part of the Big Splash show organised by Zap Art, the same group behind the three-day Streets Of Brighton celebrations.

Around 10,000 people visited Brighton Marina during last year's Big Splash.

This year's evening programme starts at 6.30pm and will be led by Brighton Carnival with dancers and musicians appearing alongside 40 a cappella singers.

A live broadcast from Southern FM will be held on a floating pontoon anchored off the marina in the hour leading up to the firework display at 10pm.

Zap Art project manager Rob Eagles said: "The Big Splash is a free family event bringing everyone together to celebrate another successful year of the festival and giving them the chance to send it off in style."

Other highlights for the final weekend include performances from actress and illusionist Aurlia Thierre at the Gardner Arts Centre and Underground by Brighton-based company dreamthinkspeak at the Theatre Royal Brighton, both on Saturday.

The last of the lunchtime concerts will be led by baritone Stephan Loges at the Pavilion Theatre on Saturday.

For information or to buy tickets, call 01273 709709 or log on to www.brighton-festival.org.uk